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Remarks Delivered by
U.S. Secretary of Labor
Elaine L. Chao
National Urban League Equal Opportunity Day Dinner
New York, New York
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Thank you, Alexis [Herman]' It's so good to see you again!
I am so pleased to be here at this golden anniversary of the Equal Opportunity Day dinner! I want to thank the National Urban League for this beautiful Public Service award. It is a tribute to the hard work of our entire team at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Our thanks also to Chairman Michael Critelli and President Marc Morial. In addition to his many other duties, Marc chairs the President's Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, which brings the public and private sectors together to revive underserved communities. So thank you, Marc, for serving in this key position.
The National Urban League and the Department of Labor share many common goals: a commitment to diversity, a passion for equal opportunity and a dedication to America's workers.
The Department and the Urban League collaborate on many partnerships that are producing results for America's workers and fighting discrimination.
In April of this year, Marc Morial and I were with First Lady Laura Bush in New Orleans to announce the Gulf Coast Employment Initiative to help at-risk young people.
The Department was on the ground immediately after the devastating Hurricanes in the Gulf with more than $357 million in national emergency grants and other assistance. We were there to help workers in the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives and reclaim their livelihoods. And Department of Labor experts are in the Gulf today, ensuring that workers are protected in the rebuilding efforts and that vulnerable low-wage workers are fully and fairly compensated.
The Department is also working with the National Urban League to help vulnerable seniors strengthen their workplace skills.
These are just a few of the many initiatives we are working on together to help those at risk build brighter futures.
In addition, the Department takes very seriously its commitment to ensure that federal contractors do not discriminate in hiring and promotion. Last year, the Department of Labor recovered a record $45 million from federal contractors who violated anti-discrimination laws. Progress has been made in ensuring fairness in the workplace. But much more needs to be done to ensure equal access to opportunity for traditionally underserved communities.
So thank you again for this very special award. And let me commend the National Urban League for nearly a century of service in building strong families, strong communities, and a more caring nation.
Together, we can continue to ensure that each and every person in our country has the opportunity to realize his or her dreams.
Thank you. And may God bless you all.
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